“He can’t sit out on the loading dock all afternoon.

So he sits in here and counts my rounds instead.”

I gazed out at the maple, bare now, with a few brown leaves still clinging.

“That’s an odd thing to care about.”

“It’s an odd thing to have to care about,” Charles said.

“Don’t let them make you feel small for sitting at a quiet table.

Being kind doesn’t cost a man anything, and they’ve gone out of their way to spend.”

Derek shoved his chair back and carried his tray to the counter without rinsing it off.